Potential connection between MS, Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s

A post by Chiropractor and now blogger/columnist Dr. Flanagan, aka “The Upright Doctor” has again raised the question of the connection between MS and Parkinson’s and Alzheimers. An interesting article! And one that raises the question, who else in my gene pool is affected with these diseases?

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, called CCSVI is new term coined by vascular surgeon Dr. Paulo Zamboni of the University of Ferrara, Italy that perfectly describes the thesis of my new book based on more than twenty years of research. CCSVI has gotten a lot of attention lately because Zamboni attributes the cause of multiple sclerosis to CCSVI due to stenosis of jugular venous drainage routes of the brain. His surgical liberation procedureuses venous balloon angioplasty, and if that fails, stents to open the narrow veins.

Apparently Zamboni and others have been having significant success, so much so that research is currently underway around the world, including the University of Buffalo in New York. Justification for the liberation procedure is based on ultasound scans showing evidence of venous stenosis. There are so many people in Canada afflicted with MS, who are looking for better options that there were long waiting lists for both the ultrasound exam and the angioplasty.

While the term CCSVI is new, the role of extracranial venous drainage issues in causing neurodegenerative diseases is not. I have been writing about it for well over twenty years now. That’s why I chose a picture of the ventricles and venous drainage system of the brain for the cover of my book. It is precisely what the book is about. In contrast to Zamboni, however, my research began with anthropological studies, and rather than MS, it started with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and Alzheimer’s. In fact, if you do a Google search for “stenosis Alzheimer’s” you will find an old article I published in Dynamic Chiropractic in 1990 calling for epidemiological studies into the role of venous drainage issues in Alzheimer’s. What’s more, MS is just the tip of the iceberg and aging baby boomers, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are the iceberg.

The key difference between Zamboni’s theory and mine is that Zamboni believes the problem is primarily caused by stenosis of veins in jugular routes. In contrast to Zamboni, I believe the problem primarily occurs in the vertebral veins as they pass through the upper cervical spine and base of the skull. Moreover, it is my opinion that mechanical strains of the upper cervical spine and base of the skull are far more likely to cause CCSVI due to deformation and compression of vertebral venous outlets rather than venous stenosis in jugular routes.

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As news about this potential connection travels around the MS community, I have been amazed at how many people have told stories of other family members affected by all three of these disease. It certainly raises connection about the association of the diseases and about the role that genetics play in all three!